North West multiple operator, Blind Tiger Inns, has taken the lease on The Talbot in Euxton, Chorley with Star Pubs & Bars and is investing in a joint £320k refurbishment of the pub which is due to reopen in late May.

The move takes Blind Tiger Inns’ estate to 12 pubs. All are leases and 11 are with Star Pubs & Bars.

The investment in The Talbot will build on its past as a popular community pub creating a great quality local with an upgraded sports offer, new menu and extended events calendar.

Inside the 1970’s pub will be completely upgraded in a contemporary style to make it attractive to the whole community. The kitchen will be replaced and a new menu introduced featuring pizzas and burgers as well as traditional British pub grub. A barista quality coffee machine is being installed and the pub’s opening hours extended to 11am to enable it to serve morning coffee. The large lounge will be revamped with booth and high level seating to cater for different groups of customers. The sports bar will be extended and 12 new screens installed.

Outside the dated pub will be redecorated and partially clad to make it an attractive feature of Euxton. A new patio area will be laid in the front and stylish furniture, a pagoda and planters added. At the rear, an enclosed children’s play area will be put in and the garden zoned to create different areas for alfresco eating and drinking.

Lawson Mountstevens, managing director for Star Pubs & Bars said: “Blind Tiger Inns are highly experienced operators in the community pub sector and have a great local knowledge of the Chorley area and the opportunities it presents. The investment in The Talbot will enable it to adapt to the community’s changing needs and expectations and to thrive for the long term.”

Blind Tiger Inns’ estate is made up of well invested high street and estate community pubs with value offers and a sports and entertainment focus.

Looking to the future, the company is committed to leased pubs. “The model is a good one; it enables us to expand without tying up significant capital and has proved profitable and cash generative for us,” says Tulloch.

“If the right opportunity presents itself, we’re interested in expanding further and have the capacity to grow to 20 sites with our existing infrastructure. We’ll consider sites with and without capital expenditure planned where we can add value within a two hour drive of Chorley.”